Jeremiah 34:9
New International Version
Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage.

New Living Translation
He had ordered all the people to free their Hebrew slaves—both men and women. No one was to keep a fellow Judean in bondage.

English Standard Version
that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother.

Berean Standard Bible
that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage.

King James Bible
That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

New King James Version
that every man should set free his male and female slave—a Hebrew man or woman—that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage.

New American Standard Bible
that each person was to set his male servant free and each his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, so that no one would keep them, his Jewish brother or sister, in bondage.

NASB 1995
that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman; so that no one should keep them, a Jew his brother, in bondage.

NASB 1977
that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman; so that no one should keep them, a Jew his brother, in bondage.

Legacy Standard Bible
that each man should let his male slave go free and each man his female slave, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, so that no one should enslave them, each being a Jew, his brother.

Amplified Bible
that every man should let his Hebrew slaves, male and female, go free, so that no one should make a slave of a Jew, his brother.

Christian Standard Bible
As a result, each was to let his male and female Hebrew slaves go free, and no one was to enslave his fellow Judean.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so each man would free his male and female Hebrew slaves and no one would enslave his Judean brother.

American Standard Version
that every man should let his man-servant, and every man his maid-servant, that is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

English Revised Version
that every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Everyone was supposed to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female. No one was supposed to keep another Jew as a slave.

Good News Translation
their Hebrew slaves, both male and female, so that no one would have an Israelite as a slave.

International Standard Version
Each person was to set free his male and female slaves who were Hebrews, so that no Jewish person would enslave his brother.

Majority Standard Bible
that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage.

NET Bible
Everyone was supposed to free their male and female Hebrew slaves. No one was supposed to keep a fellow Judean enslaved.

New Heart English Bible
that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free; that none should keep a fellow Judean in bondage.

Webster's Bible Translation
That every man should liberate his man-servant, and every man his maid-servant, being a Hebrew or a Hebrewess; that none should retain them in service, to wit, a Jew his brother.

World English Bible
that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free, that no one should make bondservants of them, of a Jew his brother.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
to each send out his manservant, and each his maidservant—the Hebrew and the Hebrewess—free, so as not to lay service on them—on any Jew, a brother, a man;

Young's Literal Translation
to send out each his man-servant, and each his maid-servant -- the Hebrew and the Hebrewess -- free, so as not to lay service on them, any on a Jew his brother;

Smith's Literal Translation
For a man to send away his servant, and a man his maid, the Hebrew or the Hebrewess, free; for a man not to serve with them with a Jew his brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free: and that they should not lord it over them, to wit, over the Jews their brethren.

Catholic Public Domain Version
that each one should release his man servant, and each one his woman servant, as a free Hebrew man and a free Hebrew woman, and that they should never be rulers over them, that is, over the Jews, their own brothers.

New American Bible
Everyone must free their Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should hold another Judahite in servitude.

New Revised Standard Version
that all should set free their Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should hold another Judean in slavery.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
That every man should set free his Hebrew manservant and maidservant, so that no man may enslave a Jew, his brother.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
That a man may release his Servant and a man his Handmaid the Hebrew male or Hebrew woman as children of freedom, that they shall not enslave, any man, his Hebrew brother
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, even of a Jew his brother;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
That every one should set at liberty his servant, and every one has handmaid, the Hebrew man and Hebrew woman, that no man of Juda should be a bondman.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Freedom for Hebrew Slaves
8After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD 9that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. 10So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them,…

Cross References
Exodus 21:2-6
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. / If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. / If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. ...

Deuteronomy 15:12-18
If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ...

Leviticus 25:39-46
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. / Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. / Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. ...

Nehemiah 5:1-13
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

Isaiah 58:6
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Philemon 1:15-16
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— / no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:21-23
Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. / For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. / You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Colossians 3:11
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

Ephesians 6:5-9
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. / And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. / Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, ...

Matthew 18:27
His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

John 8:32-36
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” / “We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?” / Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ...

Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together and had everything in common. / Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.


Treasury of Scripture

That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

Hebrew.

Genesis 14:13
And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

Genesis 40:15
For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

Exodus 2:6
And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

serve.

Jeremiah 34:10
Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.

Jeremiah 25:14
For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

Jeremiah 27:7
And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

Jump to Previous
Bondage Bondmen Bondservants Enslave Fellow Female Free Hebrew Hebrewess Hold Jew Liberate Maidservant Maid-Servant Male Manservant Man-Servant Retain Servant Serve Service Slaves Wit
Jump to Next
Bondage Bondmen Bondservants Enslave Fellow Female Free Hebrew Hebrewess Hold Jew Liberate Maidservant Maid-Servant Male Manservant Man-Servant Retain Servant Serve Service Slaves Wit
Jeremiah 34
1. Jeremiah prophesies the captivity of Zedekiah and the city.
8. The princes and the people having dismissed their bond-servants,
11. contrary to the covenant of God, re-assume them.
12. Jeremiah gives them and Zedekiah into the hands of their enemies.














that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female
This phrase underscores a significant moment in the history of Israel, where the Lord commands the release of Hebrew slaves. The Hebrew word for "free" is "שָׁלַח" (shalach), which means to let go or send away. This command reflects God's desire for justice and mercy, emphasizing the importance of freedom and dignity for every individual. The historical context here is crucial; during this time, slavery was a common practice, yet God called His people to a higher standard, reminding them of their own deliverance from Egypt.

so that no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage
The phrase "hold his fellow Jew in bondage" highlights the relational aspect among the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "bondage" is "עֲבֹדָה" (avodah), which can also mean service or labor. This command is a call to remember the covenant community, where each person is a brother or sister, not merely a servant. It reflects the biblical principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself, a theme that runs throughout Scripture. Historically, this was a radical departure from the norms of surrounding nations, showcasing the distinctiveness of God's people and His laws.

Verse 9. - Should serve himself of them; literally, should work through them; i.e. "should employ them for forced labour;" as in Jeremiah 25:13.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
that each man
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

should free
לְ֠שַׁלַּח (lə·šal·laḥ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

his Hebrew
הָעִבְרִ֥י (hā·‘iḇ·rî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite

slaves,
עַבְדּ֞וֹ (‘aḇ·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

[both male] and female,
וְהָעִבְרִיָּ֖ה (wə·hā·‘iḇ·rî·yāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite

and no
לְבִלְתִּ֧י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

one
וְאִ֧ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

should hold
עֲבָד־ (‘ă·ḇāḏ-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

his fellow
אָחִ֖יהוּ (’ā·ḥî·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

Jew {in bondage}.
בִּיהוּדִ֥י (bî·hū·ḏî)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 34:9 That every man should let his male (Jer.)
Jeremiah 34:8
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